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Millions of Americans could be banned from smoking in their own homes

And anyone who doesn’t comply could be evicted.

Public Housing Smoking Associated Press Associated Press

THE US FEDERAL government today announced a plan to ban smoking inside and out of all state-owned public housing – a proposal which has been met with a mixed reaction so far.

Some who complain of the effects of second-hand smoke were thrilled, but others, including some non-smokers, worried that it gives the government yet another reason to harass or even evict poor people for doing what would otherwise be a legal activity in the privacy of their own homes.

“I think it is completely bogus,” said Devante Barrett, a 24-year-old non-smoker who lives in the Elliot-Chelsea Houses in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighbourhood.

You might as well have us all chained up in bondage now.

Smoking is already banned in about 20 percent of the nation’s federally subsidized housing, the nationally-operated US equivalent of Ireland’s council housing.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) wants to extend that to the other 940,000 units around the country, in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Miami.

“I would not like that,” said chain-smoker Dana Jones, outside Bethel Towers, an apartment complex next to a church in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

And other residents wouldn’t like that either. But I would have to comply with it.

But her son said he tells her every day that she needs to stop, and Jones acknowledged that a federal ban would probably force her to finally abandon the habit.

Royal Visit Washington US Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro. Andrew Harnik / PA Andrew Harnik / PA / PA

HUD Secretary Julian Castro said a nationwide ban would protect more than 760,000 children and save about $153 million a year (€142 million) in health care costs, repairs and preventable fires.

America’s Surgeon General, Dr Vivek Murthy, added:

Everyone — no matter where they live — deserves a chance to grow up in a healthy, smoke-free home. There is no safe level of second-hand smoke.

The rule would ban lit tobacco products — cigarettes, cigars or pipes — in all residences, indoor common areas and administrative offices.

Smoking would also be prohibited outdoors within 25 feet of buildings. Electronic cigarettes would not be subject to the ban.

The public now has 60 days to comment, and the ban would take effect 18 months after the rule is finalised.

“The clock starts today,” said Ed Cabrera, a HUD spokesman in San Francisco.

Cigarette Smoking Associated Press Associated Press

He said residents will be asked for their input as officials figure out how to enforce the rule, looking to see what’s worked in the 60 percent of public housing in California where smoking is already banned.

The policy will probably become part of each lease agreement, and enforcement will depend largely on complaints by other residents, Cabrera said.

Tenants who don’t comply and continue to smoke could face possible eviction.
One thing that we’ve stressed is that we’re not targeting residents as a way to get them to quit smoking. We just want to make our properties smoke-free so they’re safer for everyone.

It’s all too much for Luis Torres, 64, who said he’s lived in New York public housing for 44 years.

He’s been ticketed for smoking in the hallway, which is already illegal, and said he doesn’t smoke in his apartment because his son has asthma.

He’s particularly upset that the ban would apply inside people’s homes.

That’s private. You can do everything you want in your apartment. Not what the government says. If you get sex with your wife, they’re going to check your sex too? No way.

Contains reporting by the Associated Press.

Read: Does raising tax on cigarettes actually work?>

Read: Government does NOT intend to ban vaping in pubs and offices>

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54 Comments
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    Mute Christine Paulette Roche
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    Jul 29th 2017, 8:03 AM

    Heartbreaking, may he rest in peace.

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    Mute Charles Williams
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    Jul 29th 2017, 9:35 AM

    @Christine Paulette Roche: Yes his suffering is now over thankfully. The bigger story here is 7000 children are dying every single day from hunger but it’s met with a defending silence, no Pope, no US President seem to notice, care of comment and the media, not interested. So it’s amazing how one child with little chance of survival could solicit such support while the other 7000 others who could survive were ignored.

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    Mute joanne murphy
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    Jul 29th 2017, 10:27 AM

    @Charles Williams: oh be quite, this is about one little boy. Not a political / social statement. Sleep tight little Charlie xx

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    Mute sue
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    Jul 29th 2017, 10:45 AM

    @Charles Williams: not the time or place Charles

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    Mute Ryan Carroll
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    Jul 29th 2017, 11:23 AM

    I think we should let the Charlie story rest now, there is something that just does not sit right in me debating it anymore, it feels wrong. The childs health is no longer something that can be affected by the debate so it would just become a cheap ego contest over who was “right” when really this was not about who gets proven right or wrong.

    It is however appropriate to call out the hypocrisy of many of those, especially in the US, who complained about “socialized healthcare” not keeping him alive when they have the only developed country where you can go bankrupt from medical expenses. Thanks to McCain it won’t happen but they were 1-2 votes away from 32million people loosing their health insurance and it was calculated to cause thousands of deaths, including kids.

    30
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    Mute gerry fallon
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    Jul 29th 2017, 8:10 AM

    There really are no words fitting.
    That poor couple will take a long time to get over Charlie’s death.Its time now to leave them to grieve in their privacy.I hope the Journal and other media just move on now.

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    Mute Frank Dubogovik
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    Jul 29th 2017, 8:26 AM

    For such a short life there was so much love packed into it….rest now little fighter.
    R.I.P.

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    Mute Margaret Henry
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    Jul 29th 2017, 8:37 AM

    Their real journey starts now . Thank God little Charlie is at peace and no longer suffering . RIP

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Jul 29th 2017, 11:22 AM

    @Margaret Henry: Sure it was god’s will that he suffer in the first place.

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    Mute JeanieD
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    Jul 29th 2017, 11:48 AM

    @DaisyChainsaw: Troll sick one at that.
    RIP little boy and may your grieving parents find comfort and solace in the knowledge that so many people truly cared.

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Jul 29th 2017, 12:38 PM

    @JeanieD: What’s trolling about it? If god is going to be thanked for relieving Charlie of his suffering, then he has to be blamed for giving Charlie the fatal disease to suffer in the first place.

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Jul 29th 2017, 12:57 PM

    @DaisyChainsaw: Let it go. If you understood the Theology around suffering you would know that what you say is not the case. Regardless let people express their condolences in the manner that they see fit. If religion brings them solace it’s no skin off your nose. The one thing I do know that it’s not possible to expect tolerance if your give it. I’m not religious but I’ve made an effort to try to understand where they are coming from. The baby has died and it’s time to move on.

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Jul 29th 2017, 12:58 PM

    @Catherine Sims: * if you don’t give it* that should have read.

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    Mute Liam Whelan
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    Jul 29th 2017, 1:24 PM

    @Margaret Henry: This god you speak of, if you thank him for letting Charlie be at peace now then who do you fault for him having this disease in the first place? It certainly wasn’t the parents who placed this disease upon him so does your god take full responsibility for it? And if so can he tell you as to why he done it? Because I would love to know why any “all loving” person can do things like this to innocent children day in day out. I think you know what you can do with your “thank god”.

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    Mute Margaret Henry
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    Jul 30th 2017, 1:12 AM

    @Liam Whelan:

    I lost a young child myself Liam Whelan . So I think I’m qualified to speak on this . When I said Thank God his suffering is over I meant just that .

    If you have watched your young child suffer in pain for months through operations and treatments you would thank God when it finally means they are no longer suffering even when that means they are no longer with you

    its not about you in all this it’s about your child who is suffering

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    Mute Celtic_Horizon
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    Jul 29th 2017, 8:31 AM

    RIP

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    Mute Tony
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    Jul 29th 2017, 9:43 AM

    Look after your parents now Charlie. Rest little one.

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    Mute Louise Dunne
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    Jul 29th 2017, 10:37 PM

    R.I.P. gorgeous little boy. Beautiful photo to treasure forever.
    That picture of him smiling up at his dad is haunting, i can’t equate that with all I’ve read about his condition. looking at that picture no wonder they were keen to try various treatments.

    9
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